[Aria]

Standing in the astral of the lobby is an imposing cloaked figure, eyes burning brightly from within the shadows of his hood. The voice when it speaks is like warm honey

"Good morning gentlemen, it has taken me a while to track you here. Interesting locale!  We have much to discuss and I would prefer to do it somewhere less potentially public. Your suite perhaps so that you don't need to relay my words to your compatriots?"

[Jack_Spade]

"Sure, but first: Who the hell are you?"
Isaint said.

[gilga]

Solo texts Al >> Please keep the family out of sight - we are be taking him inside. (there is little we can do to stop that we do not have wards)  I'll have my watchers circle him in case he tries anything stupid.
 While doing so he mentally orders his watcher to assense the person, trying to see who or what he is.  He smiles a shy smile, to defuse the tension... Solo understand that it could have been a lot more violent. That mage must have followed Vicki on her way in. With all these quickened spells she is impossible to miss. He thinks.


assensing: 18d6t5 3
Bah...

[adamu]

"Shiver me damned timbers," Al muttered.

Things were moving fast now - he switched his commlink/transceiver array to voice: the Fairlight's badass firewall would layer over the transceiver's encryption, and it would convert his voice to text for those who preferred AR messaging.

<<Roger roger. Make him follow yer meat up, give us a few ticks ta set up.>>

"Alrighty, y'all, we's gon' have a guest. Ever'thing's peaceful so far, but we's gon' put the Pelletieres inna suite here fer a bit, an' break ol' Al's rule about no closin' doors. Me an' Jackhammer gon' stay right by yer sides in there, an' Tobbis, now might be a good time fer active matrix overwatch, so you could come in too. Frenchie, hopin' you'll back Solo an' Isaint up out here."

Once Spike had followed the family into the room, he spoke to Victoria before shutting the door. "Apperciate all ya's done. Since this ain't percisely yer gig, you could take off now. Or yer welcome ta stay, but in fer a penny an' all that..."

[Aria]

"Sure, but first: Who the hell are you?"

"You may call me Jay.  I represent the NDM* and you have something we want.  Rather than resort to more violence it was decided to approach you directly to see if we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement..."



*New Druidic Movement - hermetic druids with ties to Her Majesty's Government and the Lord Protectors Office (disbanded I believe)

[Jack_Spade]

Seeing the message from Al, Isaint opted to engage in a bit of small talk:
"Ah, so you are those jokers with the ritual circle. You owe my colleague an apology for burning down his garage - and a new garage.
Although I do appreciate your appearing here to talk things out in a civilized fashion, you will surely understand that there will be certain security measures to ensure that those civilized talks are in fact happening.
You see, we aren't unreasonable. But we are no slave owners: The ultimate decision for a transfer lies with those affected by it.
So Jay, I ask you:
Will you abide by the laws of hospitality and stay true to your word?"

#142

[gilga]

So that guy already threat with further violence and the negotiations have not started. That meetup was no good, they stayed for too long in once place and were discovered. In fact there may be armed men already closing on the house. Solo's guts tell him that that man came to discuss surrender terms rather than an actual deal. After all, if he knows where they are why come alone, why not have a small army just in case negotiations fail.
Solo texts while ISaint speaks:
>>Al these are the ritual spirit people that burned your place. I'd assume they may have an ambush just in case we do not give them what they want.
When he finish he politely adds:  "Words are better than cannons but are you here to deliver a message or to negotiate?"

[pistolgrip]

Aaron smirks at Al's comment about Spike. "For all I know, this is devil rat." he says, holding up a skewer of spiced meat. He takes a bite and chews for a second, considering. "But it sure as hell isn't soy. Don't mind washing it down either." With that, Aaron grabbed two beers and popped the cap from one, not even swallowing his food before taking a few hard gulps.

Just as he finished his second beer, slumped against the wall and ready to fall asleep again, the messages came in. Aaron still had his 'link off, which he'd rather forgotten about by now, but Al was generous enough to inform everyone of the goings-on. Each second ticked by with a piece of gear being picked up or strapped back on: the helmet, the Taurus, the quiver, then the bow; Aaron moved quickly to get the family up and help them check their tasers and ensure they understand their operation. A few lustful glances are passed towards what food remains, and his eyes still feel heavy with sleep, but the adrenaline makes time slow down and loosens the fatigued muscles. "Stay behind me at all times. Everyone grab the person in front of you; Doc, keep your hand on my armor. I don't know how this magic stuff works, but I don't want anyone disappearing without our notice. And if Al blows the floor, we move for the hole. I'll go down first to make sure it's safe and to catch you."

[gilga]

Solo thinks "S5... try and see if you can spot magical threats around the building." Having his mind linked to that of his spirits let him send a watcher to search the vicinity of the building with nothing but a quick thought.

Assensing: 18d6t5 4

[adamu]

Waiting with Jackhammer and the others in the suite, Al swapped clips - the threat was no longer feral ghouls in the catacombs. If anything came in here that could be hurt by bullets, it'd be armored.

Yeah, anything that could be hurt by bullets - he thought of the fight back at his place and there was that weird pair of glowing brass knuckles on his right hand again. The burning behind his right kidney told him whose gift those were.

He watched his camera feed facing down the stairs. Anyone he didn't like came up, he'd blow them to kingdom come, then usher the family across the lounge, blow the floor in the other room, and they'd try to stay a step ahead of any trap. He'd seen Jackhammer's work back at the shop - the guy knew how to handle protectees, and that'd help them stay moving smoothly.

Dammit dammit dammit - he knew they'd lollygagged too long.

Or maybe, just maybe, their visitor really was just here to talk.

Then he heard from Solo who the son of a bitch was.

<<Well then I'll assume you's disextendin' yer invite up here to the damned room...>> he hissed into his lapel mic.

[Aria]

[Thursday June 18th, 2076, ~09:46, Nacht, London Below, London]

"Words are better than cannons but are you here to deliver a message or to negotiate?"

Solo senses from the tone that Jay is smiling, although it is impossible to tell within the ghostly confines of his hood

“Negotiate perhaps, proposition maybe?  After all, you are the ones in possession of the items we are seeking… I do not want to say more out here…who knows who else might be listening in?”

At the same time Solo’s watcher circumnavigating the hotel, or at least the areas it can reach that aren’t solid bedrock, reports that there is an adept’s signature who appears to be watching the hotel, dwarven, otherwise there don’t seem to be any magical threats in the vicinity…

***
_#45

[Jack_Spade]

“Negotiate perhaps, proposition maybe?  After all, you are the ones in possession of the items we are seeking… I do not want to say more out here…who knows who else might be listening in?”

"Very well, but I ask you a second time: Will you abide by the ancient laws of hospitality? We might not be able to share bread and salt, but I want your assurance that you enter our abode in good faith and that you will not engage in violence or treachery against us or our charges while you are our guest."
countered Isaint.

[gilga]

"ancient hospitality? this is a freaking ambush. We just took the family in terrain we do not understand and a guide that is too distracted by her emotions to function... and it is difficult to thinks straight when she is around. Even ISaint sort of forgave her for almost striking him, would he if she was less Gorgeous?" thinks Solo, he tries to shake Goodnight's image from his mind.  ISaint seems to enjoy talking the talk, Solo has his toys to worry about. With a mental command he texts.

@Everyone (including Nitro, Vicky and Goodnight)- there is an adept outside that seem to be watching us.  Nitro, I assume you can do this stuff better than me - can you bring a stealthy eye? Seeing from the astral may miss stuff that is visible from the meat plane.


Should Nitro fail to respond within a few seconds Solo will order two of his flying eyes to investigate, they should be able to see meat space more clearly. 

"So Goodnight is distracting?"

"uncomfortably sexy, yes... but this is a bad timing M."


"Think at how it feels for her to look like that? To be desired but as a prize, not in a good way.v She may not be a joygirl anymore - but she still aims to please and to prove her worth."

"So is her sister... but I am not sure this is the right time for this chat."


"But it is, she can be here in a blink of an eye.  She is the most charismatic of all of you... you yourself admitted, she is the only one that can look cute with a monowhip ready to use."

"That astral travel, you think she can do it? I never figured it out."


"I bet she can"

>> Goodnight - can you get your astral ass in here? M said that you can look cute even when you have a mono-whip ready to use in your fingertip. If it is a negotiation we'll need your dazzling personality with us. If it is an ambush, we'll definitely need you and Nitro - and luckily you both can help from distance.

[Jack_Spade]

While Isaint waited for a reply from Jay, he gave a quick response to Solo:
<<Noted, Thanks. By the way don't be fooled by my talk, I'm just stalling. But if he is indeed believing in that neo-druid business, he might also be susceptible to the Celtic traditions of hospitality and show his cards early. Remember - everything someone tells you about himself can be used as a weapon.>>

#144

[gilga]

Solo texts back >>ISaint, I think we can let the druid in. Our floor is the most secure location, any place else we'll have to split our security between the locations.